Rubio waives rights conditions on $320 million in Egypt military aid

Secretary of State Marco Rubio waived human-rights certification for $320 million in fiscal 2025 Foreign Military Financing for Egypt, according to a State Department letter to congressional committees obtained by Reuters. The letter is dated Sept. 21. An accompanying memo dated Sept. 4 and bearing Rubio’s signature says Egypt’s “helpful role following Operation Epic Fury” makes the waiver essential to U.S.–Egypt ties and U.S. national security.

Context: Egypt has received about $1.3 billion a year in U.S. military aid since the late 1980s, after the 1979 peace treaty with Israel. Operation Epic Fury is the U.S. military name for the campaign against Iran that the United States launched alongside Israel in late February. Reuters said the memo did not spell out what Egypt’s “helpful role” was. The wire also noted that the Iran war’s spillover has strained partners such as Egypt through higher fuel prices and other disruptions.

Past practice: Under President Biden, Washington withheld parts of Egypt’s annual military package several times over Cairo’s human-rights record. In 2024, after the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and the Gaza war, the Biden administration waived the conditions and released the full $1.3 billion for the first time in that presidency, Reuters reported.

Rights concerns and Egypt’s reply: Rights groups have long accused Egypt under President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of abuses including torture and enforced disappearances. Reuters reported that Egyptian police this week arrested six journalists from a fact-checking and investigative outlet, accusing them of spreading misinformation for the banned Muslim Brotherhood; the publication denied the charge. Egyptian authorities say they have taken steps on rights. Sisi says stability comes first and that meeting basic needs promotes rights.

Core facts — $320 million FY2025 FMF waiver, Sep 21 letter to congressional committees, Sep 4 Rubio-signed memo, national-security / counterterrorism language, “helpful role following Operation Epic Fury,” no elaboration on that role, ~$1.3 billion annual aid baseline, State/Egypt no immediate comment, Iran-war economic strain on Egypt, Biden-era withholdings and 2024 full release, rights-group accusations, this week’s arrest of six journalists, and Sisi/Egypt stability response — follow Reuters (Alexander Dziadosz, Patricia Zengerle, Humeyra Pamuk), Oct 1, 2026, as carried by Al-Monitor, Times of Israel, and Firstpost. Two Washington sources confirmed the letter’s authenticity to Reuters. Operation Epic Fury is the U.S. military name for the late-February campaign with Israel against Iran, per the same Reuters wrap. US Brief has not seen the letter or memo independently. Do not invent a fresh congressional reaction or Egypt’s specific “helpful” acts; the memo does not spell them out.